Interview with Anderson Earl Porter, March 30, 2022

Interview with Reverend Anderson Porter

Interviewed by Kieran Petrosky

March 30, 2022

Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Library, Vietnam War Oral History Project West Chester University

KIERAN PETROSKY: OK. I think we're good. All right. This is Kieran Petrovsky interviewing Reverend Anderson Porter. The date is March 30th, 2022. So Reverend, my first question for you is how would you describe your childhood?

ANDERSON PORTER: I grew up poor where you define poor, which basically is. The money you bring in by the end of the week is used and short of what you owe. And so credit is a common thing. You go to the corner grocery, get a few groceries, you just tell the owner, put it on the bill and at the end of the week or month, your father or parents pay what they can, but it's a constant indebtedness. And 00:01:00so that's how we define poor. I grew up poor, but grew up very happy.

KIERAN PETROSKY: How would you describe your education during childhood?

ANDERSON PORTER: It was good, it was good considering the limitations.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Mhm. Um, so a big part of like what you do throughout your whole life relates to your faith. And I want to ask, how were you, um, introduced to Christianity?

ANDERSON PORTER: Very early, very early because my parents were Christians and churchgoers, and Vernon and I listened. Three years of age.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah.

ANDERSON PORTER: I was told about a God who cared for his children.

KIERAN PETROSKY: And did that connection always remain strong throughout your entire childhood towards your faith?

ANDERSON PORTER: Yes.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yes?

ANDERSON PORTER: Strong faith.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Um, and how important was religion to you? Was it very important?

ANDERSON PORTER: I'm sorry?

KIERAN PETROSKY: How, uh, how important was it to you?

ANDERSON PORTER: Very-

KIERAN PETROSKY: Very important?

ANDERSON PORTER: Very important.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Okay, um, next question. What hardships did you face growing up during your childhood, other than being poor?

ANDERSON PORTER: Well, we were very strong believers, also in God, but also in a guy named Santa Claus. And so we always look forward to the day Christmas arrived because this mythical character gave us at least some of the things we dreamed about and wanted.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah.

ANDERSON PORTER: So at a very early age, I was a strong believer in Santa Claus as well as God.

KIERAN PETROSKY: What was your experience with like racism and discrimination like throughout your childhood?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, we were taught how to protect ourselves. Our security blanket was to keep our mouths shut, even though there was so much injustice in 00:03:00the world. But our livelihood depended upon not expressing yourself because it was a death call.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah.

ANDERSON PORTER: We were very afraid to speak up what we really felt.

KIERAN PETROSKY: And that went throughout your entire childhood?

ANDERSON PORTER: Throughout the childhood.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Uh-Huh.

ANDERSON PORTER: We strongly believe in God and God being able to protect us from the unfairness of being a member of the black race.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Now that trust in your face, uh faith to help you overcome those hardships.

ANDERSON PORTER: Yes.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Was that something that you were always in or something you had to build up with?

ANDERSON PORTER: Yeah, yeah. I grew up with that type of faith. I would be protected by God and, and until I was about eight years old, I was a strong believer also in Santa Claus.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Mm hmm.

ANDERSON PORTER: And the things you dream about for Christmas were gifts from 00:04:00God. Not anyone else. But your father. Mother knew that they had to save money and spend every penny to at least give you some of the things you dreamed about and wanted.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Um, getting to like high school or like that later portion of education, then that discrimination become harder or like worse, like becoming more of an adult?

ANDERSON PORTER: Yeah, it was difficult because half the kids' families were mlackore well off than you were when you were sort of caught in the middle and the only consolation you had is that you could pick out a family that was poorer than you. Yeah, so we were sort of in the middle.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Hmm. When did you decide to pursue ministry?

ANDERSON PORTER: How did I get into it?

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah.

ANDERSON PORTER: By being a strong believer in God at a very early age. I asked God to, uh, help me become more than what I am because I was confined to doing things I didn't like, that I really hated, and I asked God, if you give me any talents, let me know what they are. I will use them to the fullest because I do not like my family having me mop the floor on Saturday before Sunday and other chores that I just didn't like.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah.

ANDERSON PORTER: And if I believe in God and God would be nice enough to turn things around. And he did.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Did your family support this decision to pursue ministry? Your family, did they support it?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, yes, yes, very strongly. I wasn't called into the ministry 00:06:00until a few years after my father had passed, but my mother expressed the wish that both she and her late husband asked God to at least make one of our 10 children a minister of the gospel, and I guess God selected me.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Um, was there any point you had doubts about choosing ministry?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, yes, yes, I never, until I was around 18, I never gave it a serious thought. Being a minister was not an ambition of mine, uh, my mind leaned toward art. I could draw very well. And also, uh printing. You know, I could print very well. And also an interest in writing.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah.

ANDERSON PORTER: Those were the three things that seemed to capture my interest and I focused on that.

KIERAN PETROSKY: What were your experiences like at college?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, I guess, a bit of fun and rough at the same time. Yeah, quite a challenge. I went to college after the GI Bill enabled me to make use of the GI Bill and I got into City College and my interest at that time was working as a freelance writer or whatever.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. OK, um now I kind of want to shift towards more of the civil rights. Your work in civil rights? My first question starting off is when did you first start to, um, involve yourself with the civil rights movement?

ANDERSON PORTER: As soon as I became a minister.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Soon as you became a minister?

ANDERSON PORTER: After seven years of college training, I was called to the Second United Presbyterian Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania. And I was gung ho about doing something and saying something to right or wrong because I was very, very convinced that it was wrong for black, blacks to be treated in an unequal fashion.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Um, how did the local church community react to the movement at the time?

ANDERSON PORTER: There were some mixed feelings because very few people that were members of the church were people who had already fulfilled their needs in life, and were already making at least halfway decent salaries. And they saw my 00:09:00work as a threat to their future, so it wasn't a great support from them, but it was a great support from the new members that were coming into the church.

KIERAN PETROSKY: So there were members in the church that didn't like you for your words?

ANDERSON PORTER: That's right. They attacked me.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Did they? How did they attack you?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, with words like you're disturbing our white friends and you just moving too fast.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. How did the local West Chester community react to the civil rights movement as a whole, you think?

ANDERSON PORTER: Well, living in West Chester was like living in Mississippi or some other southern state that favored or tolerated segregation and discrimination. So it was no different. Living in West Chester, Pennsylvania as living in Atlanta, Georgia, or some southern city. KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah, um, 00:10:00did you ever use your platform as a minister to speak about civil rights?

ANDERSON PORTER: Always.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Always?

ANDERSON PORTER: Always, that was my theme son.

KIERAN PETROSKY: And you would talk, would you talk about it at church services or?

ANDERSON PORTER: Always, yeah.

KIERAN PETROSKY: And were there issues? Did people have problems with you speaking about civil rights during services?

ANDERSON PORTER: Uh, I started off with around 30 members and it graduated to about 60 in one year. And so in a sense, the speaker, the majority were in favor of what I was preaching about or at least understood.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. On the flip side, did you ever, while, um did you ever use your faith and did you ever speak about Christianity when, when like 00:11:00engaging with the civil rights movement, like when you went out and like, were an activist or like, were.

ANDERSON PORTER: Yeah, where I see myself as different. I was not afraid to go into the local bars, other businesses, on the street and off the street. People were people to me, regardless of what race they were educated, or how uneducated they were. I was a very open type person about life and progress, and they knew I was there to be helpful in any way to enhance the income, the lifestyle of others. But I made it very, very clear that I was a Christian who followed Jesus Christ.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Do you think you ever converted people to Christianity 00:12:00through your work in the civil rights movement?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, yes.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yes.

ANDERSON PORTER: Yes. Oh yes. Yes.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Were any times you faced legitimate threats or violence for your activism during that time?

ANDERSON PORTER: Yes, quite a few.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Is there any you would like to talk about or?

ANDERSON PORTER: Well. The people who had a attitude toward fairness were all people would invite me to dinner or whatever, and I would be in an all white neighborhood and in such a case there was always seemingly a policeman to stop you, stop your car, stop you and ask you: Why are you here? And then I would answer. I'm a guest to such and such a person, and uh they would go so far as to say, get in the car and go to the address to confirm what I was saying.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah, um yeah, um. Did you, did that theme of using your faith to overcome that discrimination and that racism, did that continue through your activism?

ANDERSON PORTER: Not so much in words, but in my behavior. If anybody were to define me, it would be a person who loves people. And once I showed that I didn't have to give a speech, just be the person-

KIERAN PETROSKY: The person you are. When did you first get involved with the NAACP?

ANDERSON PORTER: Immediately.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Immediately? Right away? Yeah. Um, could you take me through some of your experiences serving as the chairman, the local chairman for the NAACP.

ANDERSON PORTER: Yes, yes. Not as the chairman, but I represent.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah, sorry.

ANDERSON PORTER: But I was chairman of quite a few organizations, but I never graduated to chairperson of the NAACP, but only as a key representative.

KIERAN PETROSKY: What was that like? What was, what did your work involve there?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, going to the conventions, annual conventions, writing speeches of encouragement and asking other people to join the NAACP. and give it financial and physical support?

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah

ANDERSON PORTER: I was a good spokesman for the NAACP.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Uh, do you ever feel you had a target on your back being a key representative, y'know, like, did people, like, ever threaten you for your work there in the NAACP, or?

ANDERSON PORTER: Well, they appreciated what I was doing, if that's what you're asking.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Uh-Huh. Yeah. My next question, when did you first hear about 00:15:00Dr. King?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, there he gave a speech, while. while, I was in university, Lincoln University and I was impressed by the speech that he gave and then I met Bayard Rustin, who's a resident of West Chester, Pennsylvania and we became friends. He spoke in 1961, a year after I became pastor. And in 1962 they wanted me to be the keynote speaker. And in 1963, they selected me as chairperson on the March on Washington.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah, uh what was it like, you know, being the chairperson and what was it like to go down to Washington in March?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, it was exciting because there's a dispute about how many 00:16:00busloads we had but I know its at least 8 busloads of people had signed up as I was chairman of the of the March on Washington. And one of the reasons why I was very excited about it is Bayard Rustin and I had become good friends.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah.

ANDERSON PORTER: And he shared with me the growing problem with black people. They were losing possible jobs. Some were taken by white employees and others would just disappearing because of the age of technology and replacement. And so we were very concerned about untrained and uneducated blacks who look forward to a decent living. And so we were trying to open the door for that. Train us, and we'll do the job, and that was his thinking about the March on Washington. But 00:17:00actually, he was the one who conceived the idea.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah.

ANDERSON PORTER: But Bayard Rustin was a known gay person, and gay was not a good thing to talk about or think about or accept at that time.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Um, what was it like to hear Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, it was electric. Unforgettable. We had front row seats. I was about 50 seats back of the speech. There were a limited number of chairs for people to sit down. And we were among the first that got there and got to our seats.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah, um and you met Dr. King at one point and you spoke with him?

ANDERSON PORTER: I met him in 1967, a year before he was assassinated. He was giving a speech about his feelings about the Vietnam War.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah

ANDERSON PORTER: He was against it because it was unjust. And he was trying to 00:18:00get Americans to understand it was an unjust and an unfair war. And as a result, there were threats to his life and he was well protected. And Reverend Brown was pastor of a local church, and he said he knew Dr. King personally, and so I met him in Montclair, New Jersey, a year before he was assassinated. It was about a five minute talk.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Mhm. Um, did you model your approach to civil rights being a pastor and Dr. King being a pastor, did you kind of like model after him? Your work?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh yes.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah?

ANDERSON PORTER: Because the the very first year as, as the pastor, I got a letter, not a personal one, but a formal letter to join the movement for Civil Rights.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Um, you were speaking about Dr. King's assassination. What was your reaction to that?

ANDERSON PORTER: Oh, shocked.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Uh huh.

ANDERSON PORTER: I was on my way, uh, with Jim Farmer to be a part of a program near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania when it was announced on the radio that he had been assassinated. And we had to announce to them what had happened. It was a shocker, yes.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Y'know, did you start to fear for yourself, y'know, also being?

ANDERSON PORTER: Not really.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Not really?

ANDERSON PORTER: I'm trying to gather my thoughts of when it happened other than the shock of it happening. I got over that part, which took my mind on fulfilling his dream.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Mhm.

ANDERSON PORTER: Of civil rights for all people.

KIERAN PETROSKY: So, you know, with his death, you kept pushing even harder with it?

ANDERSON PORTER: Well, I'll tell you the attitude among many blacks, I don't know how many was, was he was hated so intensely by J. Edgar Hoover that we 00:20:00believe that J. Edgar and the FBI had something to do with his assassination.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. OK, um I want to shift gears here a little to talk a little bit about the Vietnam War. Um, I'll just start first, um when did you hear about the Vietnam War at first and what were your reactions to it?

ANDERSON PORTER: I knew very little about it, but I trusted Dr. King that it was an unfair war and we should not be involved the way that we were. And he went into more of an explanation as to why it was an unjust war and why, as Americans, we need to get out of it. And so out of trust in his word, I went along with going against the war itself.

KIERAN PETROSKY: So you, you talked about the Vietnam War ever? Did you ever speak about it? Were you openly against the war or did you kind of?

ANDERSON PORTER: I was against it, but I don't recall doing many speeches, uh to support my position.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Uh-Huh. So

ANDERSON PORTER: In other words, I trusted Dr. King about it.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Um, did you know anyone that personally served in Vietnam?

ANDERSON PORTER: Yes, yes I did.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Is there anyone close that you'd like to talk about, and?

ANDERSON PORTER: No, not really.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Not really.

ANDERSON PORTER: But I do know some, some soldiers who were in the Vietnam War.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Um, did you ever use your platform as a minister to kind of echo what Dr. King was saying about the war, or did you kind of keep to yourself?

ANDERSON PORTER: Yes, oh yes, I echoed what Dr. King was saying.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Um, was the church OK with that?

ANDERSON PORTER: Mostly.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Mostly?

ANDERSON PORTER: You know, you always have the dissensions and people who were concerned about their future and their job, and so.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah, um, what was the local West Chester community's reaction to the war? Were there like anti-war protests, were there?

ANDERSON PORTER: It was not that large.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Not that large.

ANDERSON PORTER: It was sort of like I wish it would go away, you know?

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Um, you know, with the Vietnam War as a pastor, did you ever have to like console or you know help people that were affected by the war, like maybe like families of people are drafted?

ANDERSON PORTER: That was in a small factor, small factor. Yeah. Very small.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Um, what did you think about members of the black community having to be drafted to Vietnam during that time?

ANDERSON PORTER: You mean black people involved in the war?

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Like being drafted and sent off.

ANDERSON PORTER: I had negative feelings.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Take me through those feelings.

ANDERSON PORTER: As far as what I could say and do to be helpful. It was sort of mute. Yeah.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Um, do you think today, um, the country is going forwards or backwards when it comes to treating the black community fairly?

ANDERSON PORTER: It's going forward, but it's moving pretty slowly.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Do you ever find yourself today doing any sort of activism for the black community anymore? Like, do you go out and?

ANDERSON PORTER: Not like I used to. I guess age catches up with you along with other things. Yeah, but in my younger days, I was very, very, very active.

KIERAN PETROSKY: What would you want someone to take away from your work in civil rights?

ANDERSON PORTER: That we are all human beings and we have to learn to love one another, regardless of our faith or whatever it might be. And I still believe that there is a god in charge and it's a god of love. And unless we learn to love one another and accept one another's children of God, we're going to always have wars, fights, evil, having it's way. But love is stronger than hate. And that's what my mission in life is, a hope that when I'm called to another place and life ends, that people will remember that I was among those who put love first. Love one another. The only way you can believe in God is to love one 00:25:00another. Be a help to somebody who needs help, if God calls upon you to do that.

KIERAN PETROSKY: What would you say to people that today are struggling with being discriminated against or receiving hate?

ANDERSON PORTER: They need a strong faith. A persistent hope, a never give up attitude. And in the meantime, when you pass through this life on the way, be thankful for what you have. Not cry over so much what you don't have because life is not about materialism. It's about a good heart, having a good heart. And if we have enough people who have open and good hearts, we'll solve life's problems.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Do you have any regrets about anything you did regarding the civil rights movement? Is there anything you wished she did differently?

ANDERSON PORTER: I'm sorry?

KIERAN PETROSKY: Is there, um, anything you wish you did differently regarding like your work in the movement, the civil rights movement?

ANDERSON PORTER: I can't think of anything right now. I gave it my best and I'm still giving it my best.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Um, is there anything else with your work in the civil rights movement that you want to talk about?

ANDERSON PORTER: Well, what I have learned if, if my back was against the wall, and sometimes I feel it is, people are people. We all have similar needs, and if that needs goes beyond the material wealth, you must have a good heart for other people. That's the only real joy that you can have in life, is have a love for other people. And if you don't do that, then your search is in vain. You can 00:27:00have all kinds of riches and wealth and all of that, but it doesn't pay off, doesn't give you the peace of mind, the satisfaction that God wants to give to you because you see other human beings as children of his.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Yeah. Is there anything else you'd like to share regarding anything? Dr. King, Ministry, Civil Rights?

ANDERSON PORTER: Well, I just met you and I love you already. That's the only thing I could tell you. And you are one of God's children, whether you realize it or not, and I wish you the best.

KIERAN PETROSKY: Thank you so much.

ANDERSON PORTER: Thank you son.